We often receive work that either entirely omits
the use of commas or litters them right the way
through the text at every pause or break in the
flow of writing. The hard and fast rule
is that you DON'T use a comma unless
to omit it would change the meaning of the text.
Read through our examples for more guidance.
To avoid confusion, use commas to separate
words and word groups with a series of three or
more.
For example, my £10,000,000 estate is to
be split among my husband, daughter, son, and nephew.
If you omit the comma after "son", this would
indicate that the son and nephew would have to split
one-third of the estate.
Use a comma to separate two adjectives when
the word "and" can be inserted between them.
For example, "He is a strong, healthy man."
Here's another example: "We stayed at an expensive
summer resort." You would not say expensive and
summer resort so no comma is necessary.
Use a comma when an "ly" adjective is used
with other adjectives.
NOTE: To test if a "ly" word is an adjective, see
if it can be used alone with the noun. If it can,
use the comma.
"Felix was a lonely, young boy." - lonely
can be used with boy so it is adjective and therefore
a comma should be used.
"I get headaches in brightly lit rooms" - brightly
is not an adjective because it cannot be used alone
with rooms; therefore, no comma is used between
brightly and lit.
Use commas before or surrounding the name
or title of a person directly addressed.
"Will you, Shirley, do that assignment for me?"
"Yes, Doctor, I will."
Use a comma to separate the day of the month
from the year.
For example, "Kathleen met her husband on
December 5, 2003, in Mill Valley, California."
BUT
If any part of the date is omitted, leave
out the comma.
For example , "They met in December 2003
in Mill Valley."
Use a comma to separate the city from the county
or state and after the state. Some businesses
no longer use the comma after the state.
For example I lived in Radcliffe on Trent,
Nottinghamshire, for 20 years.
OR I lived in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire
for 20 years.
Use commas to surround degrees or titles
used with names.
For example "Jennifer Wiss,
LL.B, knew Sam Sunny, Jr."
NOTE: Sometimes people having names with Jr.
attached do not use a comma before the Jr. If they
do not use the comma, then you should not.
Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt
the flow of the sentence.
For example, "I am, as you have probably
noticed, very nervous about this".
When starting a sentence with a weak clause,
use a comma after it. Conversely, do not use a comma
when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed
by a weak clause.
For example, "If you are not
sure about this, let me know now."
"Let me know now if you are not sure about this."
Use a comma after phrases of more than three
words that begin a sentence.
For example, "To apply for this job, you must
have previous experience."
"On February 14 many couples give each other chocolates
or flowers."
If something or someone is sufficiently
identified, the description following it is considered
nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.
For example, "Freddy, who has a limp, was in
an auto accident." - Freddy is named so the description
is not essential.
"The boy who has a limp was in an auto accident."
- We do not know which boy is being referred to
without further description; therefore, no commas
are used.
Use a comma to separate two strong clauses
joined by a coordinating conjunction-and, or, but,
for, nor. You can omit the comma if the clauses
are both short.
For example, "I have painted the entire house, but
he is still working on sanding the doors."
"I paint and he writes." - this is short and does
not need a comma.
Use the comma to separate two sentences
if it will help avoid confusion.
For example, "I chose the colors red and green,
and blue was his first choice." - without the comma,
it could be that green and blue were his first choice,
or it could be that I chose red and green.
A comma splice is an error caused by joining two
strong clauses with only a comma instead of separating
the clauses with a conjunction, a semicolon, or
a period. A comma splice creates what is known as
a run-on sentence.
So for example, incorrect - "Time flies when
we are having fun, we are always having fun." (Comma
splice)
Correct - "Time flies when we are having fun
and we are always having fun."
Also correct - "Time flies when we are having fun;
we are always having fun."
Also correct - "Time flies when we are having fun.
We are always having fun."
If the subject does not appear in front
of the second verb, do not use a comma.
For example, "He thought quickly when asked that
difficult question but still did not answer correctly."
If the sentance read "he thought quickly when
asked that difficult question, but he still did
not answer correctly", a comma would be appropriate.
Use commas to introduce or interrupt direct
quotations shorter than three lines.
For example, He actually said, "I
do not care."
"Why," I asked, "do you always forget to do it?"
Use a comma to separate a statement from
a question.
For example, "I can go, can't I?"
Use a comma to separate contrasting parts
of a sentence.
For exampel, "That is my money, not yours."
Use a comma when beginning sentences with
introductory words such as well, now, or yes.
For example, "Yes, I do need that report."
"Well, I never thought I'd live to see the day..."
